^but that's if you guys really convinced me. I wasn't blown away with the continuous AF with the STM lens (I'm probably just using it wrong), so I figured any focusing I'll really be doing with the t4i will be manual.

^but that's if you guys really convinced me. I wasn't blown away with the continuous AF with the STM lens (I'm probably just using it wrong), so I figured any focusing I'll really be doing with the t4i will be manual.

I'm going to school for video, so keep that in mind. Sadly, I can only spend about $500 tops on a lens, since I spent the rest on camera gear. I wish I could get a 70-200mm

If you're going to school for video, and you plan on using the camera to shoot your stuff, then I'd spend your money on a few primes rather than on a tele zoom. You'll want something to cover the wider range, and probably something in the more traditional portrait range.

I guess a 17-55 zoom would cover your wide needs; something like the Tamron non-VC, or that Sigma lens. As for the portrait side, something like Canon's 85mm f/1.8, or the Samyang 85mm f/1.4 would cover you. The Samyang lenses are a great value for video use, since you'll be manually focusing anyways. Another option is to use some older lenses (Nikon AI, older Contax/Zeiss, etc) with adapters.

The 18-135 (either the older one or the new STM) would cover general needs, but, you'll find it limiting for video use if you want shallow depth of field. I would avoid impulse buying, you already have one good lens that is useful for getting to know the camera (which is the most important part); you can find out once classes are going what you'll need more of in terms of focal length

If your primary interest is video, then consider the new EF-S 18-135, which seems to be optimized for video with the t4i.

The best available low-cost long zoom is the newer Tamron 70-300mm VC for about $350. It's no "L" lens, but it is sharper and cheaper than the Canon 70-300mm IS consumer lens.

Also, don't dismiss the 55-250mm EF-S lens. It is very sharp, although the build quality is less than stellar and it doesn't have USM (which means it focuses more slowly, but not noticeably so under most circumstances). For the price, it can't be beat. Next to the 50mm f 1.8 it is probably the best lens bargain Canon offers.

Thinking about this a little more, I really would recommend waiting until the 18-135mm comes out and there have been some reviews on the lens. For your purpose (video) it might be worth the wait and extra money. It has the advantage of a moderate wide angle to moderate telephoto zoom range, which you can't get with any of the other lenses.

I'm a newbie too and because the confidence is not there yet to buy used lenses, I've gone the refurbished route with Canon Direct Store to save money. I got a virtually new Canon 15-85mm with a recent promotion of 20% off and free shipping. With tax, the total is about $550 and I'm very happy with the quality of the lens. According to CanonRumors price watch, this lens goes for around $700 for new. I'm sure someone more savvy could get a better deal on Ebay or elsewhere, but for now, I'm very satisfed with the refurbished route and I hope that helps.

I'm a newbie too and because the confidence is not there yet to buy used lenses, I've gone the refurbished route with Canon Direct Store to save money. I got a virtually new Canon 15-85mm with a recent promotion of 20% off and free shipping. With tax, the total is about $550 and I'm very happy with the quality of the lens. According to CanonRumors price watch, this lens goes for around $700 for new. I'm sure someone more savvy could get a better deal on Ebay or elsewhere, but for now, I'm very satisfed with the refurbished route and I hope that helps.

You may be a "newbie" but you are quite savvy if you are going the refurbished route with the extra promotional savings. People pay crazy prices on eBay to get a used lens "as is" with no warranty. Refurbished lenses have a warranty and you know Canon tech has tested them out.

Hmmm...so just save my money? It isn't critical I get one now, but I would like to have something with a zoom.

What will a prime lens do? Yeah yeah yeah, laugh it up.

Single focal lenght lenses, they generally have larger appatures than zoom lenses(or allow you to get those appatures more cheaply in a smaller package) which will have the advanatge of offering shallower depth of field/focus and less need to use higher ISO in low light hence cleaner video.

I'v not used them but Sigma produce some prime lenses in the wide range with large appatures within that budget like the 20mm and 24mm f1.8's.

I'd hold off until your class teacher tells you what to get. Youy have conflicting wants here, a video lens for class, and a sports lens which might be a long telephoto.

You are going to want some other accessories as well for video, the cost of the camera is about 10% of the total beginning expense. hopefully, the school will have some of the lighting, microphones, audio recorders, tripods, video heads, etc, but wait and see. Odds are that a beginner level video tripod and head will eat up $500.

hopefully, the school will have some of the lighting, microphones, audio recorders, tripods, video heads, etc, but wait and see. Odds are that a beginner level video tripod and head will eat up $500.

Yeesh, that's what I was looking at. I worked as a production assistant a couple years ago and fell in love with glidetracks. I really want to get one, but I don't know what kind of video head it requires. I was probably going to chat with some B&H guys tomorrow.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. It is so greatly appreciated. So from the sounds of it, maybe I should hold off for the new STM 18-135mm? Does anyone know when that is hitting the market?

That's kind of what I thought a prime was...a lens with a low aperture and fixed range. I thought there was something far more special to it, though.

As mentioned above, a zoom lens is just one that can zoom in and out, even if it's just a little bit.

Telephoto would be a lens that brings far-away things in close, such as in sports or birding, but it could be either a zoom or a fixed-length (PRIME) lens.

Wide-angle lenses are the opposite of telephoto, and they also come in both zoom and prime flavors. They allow you to get a wider view of the world into one shot, but none of it is terribly close-up looking when you are done, and in fact if you take the shot from very close-up your subject might end up looking distorted (big nose and comical forehead).

As you may need this for a specific purpose, I agree with Mt Spokane when he says to find out from your classes what it is that you need. Especially as you are a student on a budget, it would be painful to guess wrong and blow your entire budget and not get what you need.